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Even after 26 years in the job I still occasionally come
across a patient or a condition that I have never seen before
and leaves me shaking my head in disbelief.
My colleague Geraldine examined "Bella" when
she came to Fairfeld for her puppy vaccinations. "Bella"
seemed completely healthy in every respect except one! Geraldine,
in her typically thorough manner had spotted a certain peculiarity.
"Bella" appeared to have a rather large and prominent
clitoris. Somewhat startled by this observation "Bella"
was brought over to the remainder of the Fairfield team
for a consensus.
As my eyes widened, I was happy to concede that her clinical
observation was entirely accurate. We came to the conclusion
that "Bella" was one of a rather rare gender type
known as an intersex. These individuals have the biological
characteristics of both male and female.
True to form, several months later, when "Bella"
was surgically neutered I removed 2 testicles attached to
a uterus from inside her abdomen. "Bella" by virtue
of the testicles and what we now understood to be a vestigial
penis was more "Bert" than "Bella!"
In any case, no matter what sex "Bella" is, she
is a fabulous pet with a terrific temperament but a rather
deep bark for a Lady!
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